Renee Vaughn's Blog

If you ever wondered how Daylight Saving Time came about, since this is the time that we 'fall' back by changing those clocks, this may or may not explain it for you.. BUT isn't it good to always learn something that we may not have known about before?!?!

At the writing of this blog...it is pouring rain(seemingly sideways :-) but coming down at a study pace nonetheless. Just coming out of the studio from another busy morning on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, when Sybil Wilkes mentions that R&B singer Vesta(Williams) was 'reportedly' found dead in her California hotel room. For most of the morning the story was unconfirmed- given that the Associated Press nor other reputable news sources had any confirmation (to me a bit odd). She was just on the Fantastic Voyage with the crew earlier this year and Vesta was having a blast....AND NOW NEWS OF HER DEATH!!! Well by now just about everyone has either twitted or post on their Facebook pages about her untimely passing at 53 years old. The music industry and closet friends/fans are understandingly in disbelief as much as I am. What great music and energy she leaves behind, along with an INCREDIBLE SENSE OF HUMOR, and without question will be sorely missed....and goes without saying TOMORROW IS PROMISED TO NO ONE...whatever the cause of death, Vesta was an extraordinary and very talented individual who left her mark with those who loved and respected her....she will forever live on through her music and wonderful memories...what a talent and class act!!!

Well the old adage- Government by the people, for the people seems to have been thrown out the window like an old pot of over-cooked grits! I mean really...our nation is on the verge of economic disaster, not to mention being credit down-graded, and if the nation's debt ceiling isn't raised by August 2nd, our ALREADY slumping economy could get worse! WHY IS THIS?!?!? Now granted we sometimes agree to disagree on issues of importance, but when it comes to the very livelihood of each citizen being greatly affected by what Democrats and Republicans are in constant battle as to who has the best plan for raising the debt ceiling...we're ALL right smack dab in the middle of a never-ending war of words that is absolutely producing NO results!!

Where will it lead US?...hopefully closer to putting our REAL faith in a higher power who promises His Kingdom will never be brought to ruin. And the Kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these (earthly) kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite....Daniel 2:44 New World Translation. Until then...just say a prayer that WILL get through these tough economic times!!!

Everyday presents not just another moment of life but the challenges that always seem to go right along with it! But in this blog I just take a moment to reflect on the people who have made each and everyday possible...first and foremost I will ALWAYS give thanks to my God, whom of course without Him there would be NO me!!! Family- way too many to mention :-) but they know who they are and that I love each and every one of them very much....my 'extended' family known as radio, and that means YOU 97.1 QMG listeners...just thank you for the love and support you have shown and continue to show...especially in my ten years with this station. QMG has survived and thrived because of loyal listeners like yourselves, or if you're a 'newbie', you are definitely family to me as well! No doubt you have many reasons to be thankful in your everyday lives, as I once again 'thank you' for letting me share that life isn't always going to be easy or care-free, but thankful that I have an opportunity to (try) live life to its fullest!!!

April 4th, 2011 is just one of many dates that likely will remind us that it's that time of year...no, not to remember to file our taxes on time..that's a WHOLE other topic of discussion.... but a reminder that as the seasons/weather change(s) from Winter to Spring, the weather really can get crazy! From 80+ degree weather one day...then the upper 50's the next to a massive thunderstorm and/or tornado somewhere in the middle. This latest storm resulted in not only power outages AGAIN for many folks, but to simply be awaken from a real good sleep around 2:30 in the morning is not cool, especially when one has to get up mighty early to head in to work...and I know I'm not the only one with those kind of early work hours. Didn't hear of any fatalities here locally from this last storm, but some people from the deep South were not as fortunate...at the writing of this blog as least six deaths from the Mississippi River across the Southeast to Georgia and the Carolinas...so sad when ANY life is lost due to severe weather. The real question is..does severe weather of any nature, especially late at night keep you awake, or do you just say a prayer knowing that in God's hands, everything will be alright!!!

As a part of 97.1 WQMG and the Tom Joyner Morning Show, many of you know my role as a broadcaster that includes delivering the news/headlines on the TJMS. Well I'm blogging today to not only talk about what I enjoy and have so humbly been blessed to do with this radio station, but to stress the importance of staying on top of events that are taking place in our world today! Many of you at the writing of this blog will have heard or even discuss to some degree the recent devestation that has taken place in Japan with the powerful earthquake that triggered a Tsunami. As many as 200-300 bodies have been found in the coastal area of the country, and without question those numbers will horrifically rise, as waves as high as some 33 feet carried cars, boats and massive debris across open fields. The earthquake itself, which struck Japan around 2:45pm their time/12:45am EST(our time) has gone down so far as the largest in the country's history and the 5th strongest in world in some 111 years, with at least 19 aftershocks stronger than the recent earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Question Of The Day that many of you tune in to hear on the TJMS recently lead to some very good dialogue when asked...'Is News Becoming More 'Entertainment' Than Acutal News?' Many of us do try to keep up with current events, myself included, as much as possible...but for those of you that don't, take a hard look at what's going in the world around us. Many individuals make the mistake of thinking it doesn't affect me because it's 'not happening here.' Events such as this have a tremendous impact on ALL of us, whether it's happening here at home or around the globe...NONE of us are immuned to any type of devastation that takes place in this world! In fact that same Tsunami that struck Japan also hit Hawaii and put areas of alert as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska, and the ENTIRE U.S. West Coast!!

Whether you have open dialogue through conversation with co-workers, friends, family(and that should even include your children..they too need to realize the importance of world events), or even complete strangers, be it verbally or on the world wide web, just try to keep yourself informed about what's going on around you!

In closing, my prayers and thoughts are with those in Japan and for all of us here in this country. What's taking place in the world around us makes me think of the Book of Zephaniah, with the opening verses reminiscent of both (the) creation and of Noah's flood. Chapter 1:3 "I shall finish off earthling man and beast. I shall finish off the flying creature of the heavens and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked ones; and I will cut off mankind from the surface of the ground,” is the utterance of Jehovah. " Chapter 3:12 also comes to mind, "And I shall certainly let remain in the midst of you a people humble and lowly, and they will actually take refuge in the name of Jehovah." (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures) In light of what is taking place in this world today...may we indeed take refuge in our God and continue to keep ourselves informed.

For those of us who watched the Big Dance of Professional Football, what took place before either Pittsburgh or Green Bay took to the gridiron was the performance of singer Christina Aguilera and her rendition of the National Anthem. Now personally I didn't see the performance, but the after-shock and ripple effect of what she did to the Anthem did, and probably still does, have people buzzing in the workplace or near somebody's water cooler as to how could she possibly mess up what's consider to most individuals a sacred piece of musical composition that pays homage to the United States of America.

Learning after-the-fact that she was singing before the start of the game, I began to think of Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson before her who both brought such passion and conviction to the lyrics of the song, I just automatically assumed (as I'm sure some of you may of thought the same) because Christina too has such a 'powerhouse' of a voice that she would deliver along the same lines as Jennifer or Whitney...but then the unexpected happened and she left out an entire verse to song, and created a somewhat, never-heard-of version of the same song!

Now should we fault Christina for not being better prepared to deliver one of the most patriotic hymns of our time? It's been known that she's sung the National Anthem hundreds of times at other venues and events since she was likely still a young Mouseketeer with the Mickey Mouse Club and she even NAILED a rehearsal of the Star-Spangled Banner before she took to the field at Cowboys Stadium for this year's Big Game....never mind the 'pressure' of having to sing in front of hundreds-of-thousands who were in attendance. A better question- how many of US know the Star-Spangled Banner word-for-word from beginning to end without re-arranging the lyrics?!?

It may have been an embarrassing moment, depending upon who you ask...but should it also be a wake-up call for those in charge of booking singers to perform at one of the most-watched sporting events in the world to have a back-up, such as a teleprompter...just in case someone does FORGET THE LYRICS!!

The title of this blog is not making any reference to the countless number of singers/entertainers who have covered the tune, but to take this opportunity to instead be forever greatful and humbled during the VERY cold winter season to have a place(s) to stay when the weather is indeed frightful! Sadly, there are too many people to mention who (and likely through no choosing of their own) don't have a roof over their head(s) and have to struggle each and every day to survive in the harsh elements! So any and everytime I have the nerve to complain about the weather...from this day forward, I foremost give thanks to God for providing me shelter and to stop and THINK of those who are less fortunate....God bless them as well to continue to survive!!

Democrat...Republican....Independent..Libertarian...Conservative...whatever you consider yourselves in this crucial Mid-term election...represent your respective party and exercise the 'voting freedoms' that so many others around the world may not have the 'right' or 'privledge' to do so! And I hope that you look past all the NEGATIVE campaign ads...and there were ALOT!!!...and just keep in mind those before you who weren't even allowed to vote, or the future generations who MAY be denied the same opportunity....whatever the outcome of this 2010 election...just know what an impact you could have made during this election year!!

Not only has Fall finally arrived...but so has the Homecoming season for many colleges and universities across North Carolina! From N.C. A&T, WSSU, Wake Forest to even my ECU Pirates getting ready to party with the Purple and Gold :-) If you are analum, please share on this blog where you went to school and how you are planning to celebrate a homecoming to remember!!